Sian Williams's holiday heaven and hell

The journalist and television presenter Sian Williams on collapsing in New
York and a disastrous cycling break in Brittany.

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'Ask a local where to eat', advises Sian Williams. 'I've had some of the best meals in my life this way'Photo: PA

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Sian Williams had a magical break at Lake Iseo in Italy before the birth of her son

Interview by Richard Webber

12:10PM BST 02 Sep 2009

Great holidays...

Which was your best holiday?

In August 2006, just before my son, Seth, was born, I visited the Italian Lakes with Paul, my partner. We stayed in a lovely hotel near Lake Iseo, one of the quietest and smallest lakes. It's a beautiful area and we enjoyed driving around, stopping at little restaurants and admiring the scenery. The weather was fabulous and the break provided a much-needed period of serenity before the chaos of having another child.

And the best hotel you've stayed in?

Knoll House at Studland Bay, Dorset. It's a friendly, family-run hotel, very old-fashioned and where Enid Blyton wrote the Noddy stories. A musical melody comes over the intercom when it's time for dinner, which is lovely. The hotel has an indoor pool, tennis courts and is situated on the beach at stunning Studland Bay, which seems to have its own microclimate.

Having grown up near the sea, my favourite holidays are by water. It's also nice letting someone else prepare the meals and not having access to mobile phones or technology: I like being cut off so no one from work can contact me and I can't contact them. It's also important to have decent weather and plenty for the kids to do.

What do you always take with you?

Lavender oil, because it's great for bites and I seem to attract flying insects, especially mosquitoes. It's also good for burns and was used during the Second World War, apparently. Its uses are varied because it helps babies sleep, too.

What's your best piece of travel advice?

Ask a local where to eat. Wherever I am, I'll always stop someone and ask where they would recommend. I've had some of the best meals in my life this way. In Venice, where everything is hugely expensive, we wanted somewhere cheap and cheerful. A local took us to a restaurant, down the back streets, which didn't use a menu; they simply made a meal out of any fresh ingredients available. You'd never have found it in any guidebook.

Where do you want to go next?

India. I visited while filming a report about tigers for the Six O'Clock News and want to return with my family. It's an amazing country because you have the intensity and bustle of Delhi, and the peace and tranquillity of the countryside. I'd like to explore further.

...and disasters?

Which was your worst holiday?

When I was 20, I visited Brittany with my then-boyfriend. I'd won a scholarship to study in the United States and wanted a holiday before going. Not having much money, we took our bikes and tent, and planned a two-week cycling holiday. Problem was, my boyfriend had a 10-speed racer and could race up hills, while I had a gearless Shopper with a basket on the front. Everywhere was hilly so it was exhausting, not helped by having to carry a tent, backpacks, sleeping bags and other equipment. It rained all the time, some days so torrential we couldn't get out of the tent. We stuck at it for 10 days before returning early.

And your worst experience on holiday?

After completing the New York marathon in 2001, I collapsed and woke up two days later in hospital with a drip in my arm. I'd drunk too much water and had diluted all the essential salts in my body. I couldn't talk, hear or see for a while and it was the most terrifying experience; people have died of this while running marathons.

What's the biggest packing mistake you've made?

Taking too much. I try minimising but it never works. I also end up with inappropriate items, such as summer clothes only for the weather to turn cold. When we visited Majorca, I took flimsy dresses. Some days were chilly and I ended up buying a jumper.

Which is the worst hotel you've stayed in?

I'm not a fan of business hotels and while visiting the Tory Party conference last year in Birmingham, I stayed in an awful place. It was so old they still had round-pin plug sockets, the curtains didn't close properly, it was noisy and the meals expensive. I was out filming until late and wanted a sandwich but couldn't bring myself to pay £16.50.

What do you avoid on holiday?

Crowded tourist beaches where you have to pay for a sunlounger. Also English newspapers, convincing myself that I don't need to know what's happening back home. Unfortunately, I usually relent before the end of our holidays and buy a paper.

What do you hate about holidays?

The day before travelling because everyone is anxious, clothes you want to take aren't washed and you must remember to cancel papers and milk. I also can't stand returning with a suitcase full of washing to a cold house, answerphone blinking and a mountain of mail – that's depressing.